椭圆线柱苣苔 xian zhu ju tai

Corysanthera elliptica Wallich ex D. Dietrich, Syn. Pl. 3: 582. 1842; Chiliandra obovata Griffith; Rhynchotechum latifolium J. D. Hooker & Thomson ex C. B. Clarke; R. obovatum (Griffith) B. L. Burtt.

Stems 0.7-2 m, basally glabrescent, apically densely appressed rust-brown to brown woolly. Leaves opposite; petiole 0.8-5 cm, appressed rust-brown to brown woolly; leaf blade oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, 9.5-32 X 3-10 cm, adaxially rust-brown to brown woolly, glabrescent, abaxially densely woolly to fulvous pubescent, glabrescent except along veins, base cuneate to attenuate, rarely nearly rounded, margin denticulate to serrate, apex acute to acuminate. Cymes 15-70-flowered; peduncle 0.9-4 cm, densely appressed rust-brown to brown woolly to pubescent; bracts 3-13 mm. Pedicel 2-13 mm. Calyx segments lanceolate, 2.2-5 mm, outside brown woolly to pubescent, inside glabrous. Corolla white or tinged pink, 3.5-6 mm; tube 1.5-2.5 mm; adaxial lip 1.6-1.8 mm; abaxial lip 2.2-4 mm. Stamens adnate to corolla near base, 0.5-1.1 mm; staminode 0.2 -0.3 mm. Pistil 5-7 mm, glabrous; ovary 1-2 mm. Berry white, 2-6 mm, glabrous. Fl. Jun-Oct, fr. Aug-Jan.

Forests, shaded streamsides; 100-1800 m. S Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, SW Guizhou, Hainan, S Sichuan, SE Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam].

Rhynchotechum ellipticum and R. formosanum are very closely related, and all of the characters used to distinguish them intergrade. Weitzman and Skog believe that they represent a single species.